WASHINGTON, D.C. - Federal Aviation
Administration (FAA) Associate
Administrator for Commercial Space
Transportation Patricia Grace Smith has
announced that the 6th Annual FAA
Commercial Space Transportation
Forecast Conference will take place on
February 11 and 12 at the Fairmont
Hotel in Washington, D.C.  The theme of
this year’s conference is “Commercial
Space - Looking to the Future.”

The first day of the conference begins
at 9 a.m. with keynote speaker and
Chairman of the House of
Representatives Committee on Science
Rep. Sherwood H. Boehlert, R-NY.  At
noon, the luncheon speaker will be Gil
Klinger, director for space policy of
the National Security Council of the
White House.  Throughout the day
various panels will cover issues such
as the human presence in space, legal
considerations for private lunar
missions, and entrepreneurship.

The second day of the conference also
begins at 9 a.m. with keynote speaker
Bob Walker, a former congressman and
now chairman of the Commission on the
Future of the U.S. Aerospace Industry. 
While in Congress, Walker was chairman
of the Committee on Science.  Day two
panels will focus on space education,
legislation, and propulsion.

Prior to 1989, no commercial space
transportation industry existed and the
U.S. only launched commercial
satellites on vehicles owned by the
government.  Various events in the
1980’s led to the development of the
U.S. industry and by 2000 the industry
accounted for more than $60 billion in
economic activity and provided untold
benefits to consumers.  Both economic
and consumer service levels are
expected to grow.

The FAA is responsible for regulating
U.S. commercial space transportation. 
For more detailed information on the
conference go to www.ast.faa.gov.
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